My guest for this episode is Micah Beachy Gilkeson. Micah is a storyteller, content creator, and marketing strategist passionate about authentic connection. She is the founder of M Creative Society, a boutique social media and content agency, and the voice behind Postcards from Micah, a lifestyle and travel brand that showcases hidden gems locally and globally. Micah’s work highlights a thoughtful blend of creativity and strategy, helping brands and businesses tell their stories with impact. She is also a co-founder of Raleigh Women in Marketing, a growing professional community focused on connection, education, and mentorship. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina… Micah brings her deep love of art, travel, and community into everything she does.

We begin our chat discussing Micah’s lifelong interest in the creative arts and how her study of fine arts in college and a new job led to an intersection with a newly discovered passion for marketing. She shares how being an actress, a storyteller, and writer has informed and influenced the way that she approaches marketing.

Micah discusses the importance of authenticity and consistency when building connections and fostering healthy communities.

Our conversation also delves into Micah’s writing career where she explores themes of heartache, trauma, individuality, human flourishing, and resilience. Micah wrote and released 2 books in her early 20’s and her zest and talent for writing is easily recognized.

We dig deeper into the ideas of curiosity and creativity and how those principles have shaped how she shows up as a marketer, creative artist, and in her everyday life.

Micah shares intently on the challenges that we all face, including those who choose the path of becoming an entrepreneur. We speak about those obstacles like fear, self-doubts, and anxiety… and how to cultivate resilience in the midst of personal and professional struggles.

Micah was recently named one of the top 30 influencers in the Raleigh area. Her talents as a marketer, creator, and storyteller are growing by the day and her willingness to grow and explore new opportunities is remarkable. Micah has a knack for building and contributing to communities and showing up in a very wholehearted way.

Micah’s Programs and Projects:

- Postcards from Micah: Growing a lifestyle and travel platform focused on local gems, global adventures, and vegan-friendly finds.

- M Creative Society: Supporting brands with social media management, content creation, influencer marketing, and brand storytelling.

- Raleigh Women in Marketing: Building a professional community for women in creative industries through networking, education, and mentorship.

- Upcoming Courses: Preparing to launch new online courses focused on social media strategy, branding, and microinfluencing- designed to empower individuals and small businesses to grow with confidence and authenticity.

Connecting With Micah:

Instagram: @postcardsfrommicah

Business Instagram: @mcreativesociety

Website: mcreativesociety.com

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to find out more about my coaching services and to see how I might be able to help you attain the outcomes you want and create the change you are seeking.

- Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In today’s episode I am joined by Isabel Grueneich, a social advocate and graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Field.

Isabel and I discussed some of the larger social issues facing the world today and she shares her perspectives on the disconnect that often exists when our judgment of others overrides our sense of empathy and understanding for how an individual may have gotten from Point A to Point B. She points out the importance of investing the time to listen to people so that we can better understand how they have chosen to survive.

We also chat about the role that money plays in politics, how the system gets impacted by greed and power structures. People are put in boxes or separated into groups and the fallout is damaging and unity is compromised.

Isabel discusses the importance of questioning systems and how her generation is strong in the areas of seeing their own value, speaking up, and being collective voices for change. She also talks about how she was influenced and empowered to speak due to growing up around strong women and people who encourage critical thinking. Her education also played a big role too.

The topic of resilience is talked about and Isabel acknowledges that resilience is a process and we can find it in the of the majority of our lives. It’s not glorious or glamorous and it is actually very hard and challenging to come to terms with sometimes.

Towards the end of our chat, Isabel is clear about challenging and encouraging people to become involved in programs that will widen their mental horizons. Specifically, she mentions a program that she participated in that was in Argentina. The program focused on the prevention of domestic violence and it involved sharing ideas and collaboration with various government officials and nonprofits and it was a very impactful experience for her personally.

Connecting with Isabel:

Instagram: Isabel.grueneich

Tiktok: Isabel.grueneich4811

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to find out more about my coaching services and to see how I might be able to help you attain the outcomes you want and create the change you are seeking.

- Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

Amanda Oster is my first ever Podcast guest interview, and I want to thank her for being a part of the show and sharing her thoughts, experiences, and some great stories with us. This interview kicks off this 8 episode series that I’ve named “Women In The World: Voices and Perspectives In Their Own Words.”

This is Part 2 of my interview with Amanda. In this episode, she shares more about her experiences as a church leader and female pastor in a space that is traditionally dominated by males.

We also dive into the problematic and exclusionary practices of many American churches today and how so many people are being shamed, othered, and harmed in these circles. This in turn leads to other issues including the realities of why so many people are experiencing faith shifts, deconstructing, or leaving the church altogether.

You won’t want to miss Amanda share her thoughts on how the church and Western Christianity can begin to both embrace and move with more urgency and intentionality in the direction of a hopeful trajectory for the future.

Connecting with Amanda:

Amanda held her first Lyra Connect Event in March of this year and is working on other ones for the summer and fall. The specific dates for those events will shared in the near future. More information on this ministry project can be found here.

https://www.lyraministries.org

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links &Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to find out more about my coaching services and to see how I might be able to help you attain the outcomes you want and create the change you are seeking.

- Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

Amanda Oster is my first ever Podcast guest interview, and I want to thank her for being a part of the show and sharing her thoughts, experiences, and some great stories with us. This interview kicks off this 8 episode series that I’ve named “Women In The World: Voices and Perspectives In Their Own Words.”

In this episode, Amanda shares about her experiences with Community. Specifically, she dives into the idea that it’s not necessarily hard to find community, but communities can be challenging to build. We must take the first step and it’s all about engagement. Certain aspects of community including reciprocity and commonality are also discussed.

Amanda breaks down her Core Practices of Worship, First Fruits related to Excellence and Stewardship, Hospitality, Community, and Service.

We discuss the role and impact of the Christian faith in her life. As a young believer growing up, she saw her faith as her identity and viewed God as her therapist.

One of the principles that she gained from being a very active and involved participant in her faith from a very young age is the ability to live boldly, and to be vocal and outspoken. Amanda points out that speaking our minds is a helpful reminder of what it is that we care about and what we’re standing for.

In the later stages of Part 1 of our conversation, we began to talk about how her faith evolved as she got married, moved away, and began working in various ministry roles. We also explored the idea of speaking up to injustices and the kinds of questions she began asking more often as her faith shifted and changed. Some of those questions include:

“What are we doing all this for?”

“Where do all these ideas come from?”

“What kind of condemnation are we placing on people?”

“What kinds of things are we saying?”

The idea that rigid religious systems discourage questioning theology is discussed along with the harsh realities, loss of community, and shunning that so often comes to those who explore doubts and ultimately embrace a more liberal spirituality that is bigger, more expansive, and more inclusive than the faith we originally inherited.

You don’t want to miss Amanda’s perspective as she compares and contrasts traditional faith frameworks that often adhere to a Belief-Behave-Belong model. In a more open and inclusive faith lens, she shares how putting Belonging at the beginning of that model can positively change the way people love and care for each other.

Connecting with Amanda:

Amanda held her first Lyra Connect Event in March of this year and is working on other ones for the summer and fall. The specific dates for those events will shared in the near future. More information on this ministry project can be found here.

https://www.lyraministries.org

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to find out more about my coaching services and to see how I might be able to help you attain the outcomes you want and create the change you are seeking.

- Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

Welcome to this truly exciting Preview Episode. In this chat, I will discuss my very first series of Guest Interviews.

This kickoff to Guest Interviews will be centered on Women’s Perspectives, Voices, and Experiences In the World. In fact, I’m calling the series “Women In the World: Voices & Perspectives In Their Own Words.”

One of the intentional aims of the PerfectWhelm Podcast is to flip the script and shine the spotlight on individuals and groups of people who either aren’t listened to first, or maybe aren’t listened to much at all. This would include those who have been traditionally held back, marginalized, mistreated, glossed over, ignored, or othered.

I touch on the impact of Patriarchal frameworks and how these power based systems have negatively impacted the autonomy of women, limited their opportunities and rights, and too often exposed females to discrimination and acts of violence.

I mention the progress that has been realized in regards to women’s issues in the areas of better access to education, increased opportunities in the corporate world, increased visibility in politics, better pay in the workplace, and more equality in the sports world. While great strides have been made, we can do more… and we must speak out and act when we see injustices. When it comes to making a difference, silence is not golden… and our future depends on hers.

Join me and tune in as we embark on this journey of 8 to 10 episodes where we listen to female voices and perspectives. We are sure to learn more about the powerful and transformational impact that women are having on our world… and we will hear the stories in their own words.

Links & Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to find out more about my coaching services and to see how I might be able to help you attain the outcomes you want and create the change you are seeking.

- Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Please follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone who you think might benefit from it.

In this second part of my discussion on Contrarian Philosophies and Nonconventional Thinking, I delve into 3 more ideas associated with swimming upstream and challenging mainstream patterns.

First, I dive into the principle that we should give what we need. This is counterintuitive for sure. I discuss how giving first offers connection to others and ourselves. It offers a pathway for human flourishing and abundance.

Next, I talk about the pitfalls of engineering our lives with firm expectations. I share how entering into most situations with pre-conceived notions about how things should turn out can ultimately lead to major disappointment and big let downs. Rather, when we stay open to possibilities, and begin to really let go of what we expect or believe needs to happen, then we are creating a space where more curiosity, flexibility, and ultimately peace can define the ways that we interact with our environment, our thoughts, and our attitudes about our lives.

The final idea I discuss is the idea that sometimes in life- Winners quit and Quitters win. Growing up in a sports environment, I was often told that Winners never quit and Quitters never win, but I began to challenge that as I grew older and my mind opened up to new realities and various possibilities. I share in depth on this subject of how quitting is often equated with failure in our culture as well as the over emphasis on winning in our society. I give examples of how American businesses like Airbnb and Apple and the obstacles they faced in the development of their businesses illustrate the things we can learn from failing and quitting. Specifically, I discuss how quitting when you are stuck with no evidence of progress or improvement or you find yourself in a cul-de-sac with no way out, can be quite beneficial. Failing and Quitting can actually set the stage for future growth and expansion in our businesses, relationships, and even in our cognitive and emotional development and consciousness.

Links & Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me by sending me a DM on social media or emailing me at the following email address.

Email:eric@ericslivoskey.com

Thanks for listening. I would very much appreciate it if you would take a moment to leave a rating, a comment, a review, and/or share my podcast with a friend or family member.

In this episode, I explore the first three of six principles that I will discuss on unconventional ideals and guidelines that don’t get neatly wrapped into mainstream thinking.

The idea here is to consider some contrarian points of view. A contrarian is someone who opposes or rejects popular opinion and reasons independently from the ground up… resisting the pressure to always conform.

The first idea I discuss involves the metaphorical principle of “Eating Dessert First.” I explore the idea that life is uncertain, often very fragmented and unpredictable. With tomorrow not being promised, we should not put off until tomorrow or until retirement… what we might do today.

The second point I share involves abandoning the ideals and trappings of Perfectionism and just getting things finished, even if it means doing B minus work. Done is better than good. Through intentional focus, creating hard deadlines for ourselves, and prioritizing finishing… we can learn to live a life where delivering and shipping become the norm. A key point in this discussion is the idea that a Task expands to fill the time that we give to it.

To illustrate the B minus work philosophy, I share a personal story how I recently recorded a podcast episode and my stomach wouldn’t shut up during most of the recording. Tune in to find out what I did with that episode.

The final discussion point in this episode is how the first step in becoming successful starts with helping others find validation and success. I share how the podcaster Lewis Howes has inspired me to place a heavy emphasis on acknowledging others and shining a spotlight on the projects and work they are doing in their lives and in their business. It is amazing the things that we can accomplish when we feel supported. In this last segment, I will challenge all of us to ask ourselves “What are some different ways that we can support and contribute towards the projects and efforts of others.

Links & Resources

My “Coaching Out of Bounds” Blog Link:

www.coachingoutofbounds.blogspot.com

- Schedule a free discovery call with me by sending me a DM on social media or emailing me at the following email address.

Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Thanks for listening. I would very much appreciate it if you would take a moment to leave a rating, a comment, a review, and/or share my podcast with a friend or family member.

In my shortest episode to date, I talk about the intentional decision we can make to be more present in our lives.

One of the most impactful ways to enrich our daily lives is to choose to be present with our circumstances, our thoughts, and our interactions with ourselves and others. When we allow ourselves to stay in the moment, it can help us reduce our human tendencies to be in a continual state of analysis, judgment, and assessment.

Being fully present opens the door for us to let our emotions flow through us, without wasting energy to judge them. When we become more embodied, more connected to our heart, our intuition, our gut, it creates the path for us to live more authentically.

Perhaps the best gift we gain from focusing on the now is the ability to not just be planning or thinking about our lives, but to be fully engaged in participating in and experiencing our lives.

Links & Resources

- Schedule a free discovery call with me.

Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com

Thanks for listening. I very much appreciate it if you leave a rating, review, and/or share my podcast with a friend or family member.